Are you an animal lover? Do you love puppies and kittens? Majestic horses and cuddly baby bear cubs? How about squirrels? Do you love watching these fluffy, tail-flicking characters racing around your backyard, scampering across your fences, defying gravity to get into your bird feeders? Well, if you do love squirrels, you may not be aware of the dangers they can pose if their numbers get too large, or if they get into your wall voids and attic spaces.
What are some signs that a squirrel or two has gotten into your home?
- Noises in the attic. If you are hearing "things that go bump in the day," those noises probably aren't coming from mice or rats. If you are hearing noises in the daytime, you may have a squirrel or two up there.
- Bad smell in the attic. Squirrels leave urine and feces everywhere they go, which will eventually leave a smell. But this is nothing compared to the smell that will be left if one of them dies in your wall voids.
- Holes in your roofline. If a squirrel can get to your roof area by way of a tree branch or an electrical wire, they may have chewed a hole and be nesting in your attic.
- Footprints. If you have areas of dust or other fine material, you may see tiny little footprints that look like the skeleton outline of a human hand. These are squirrel footprints.
- Squirrel nest. If you find a big, loosely constructed, messy nest made of leaves, bark, vines, twigs and the like, you have found a squirrel's nest. You may also find materials that have been stolen from your home, such as insulation.
So what's the big deal if a squirrel does get in?
- Squirrels chew inside. And chew and chew and chew. Like all rodents, squirrels have a pair of ever-growing incisors that they have to constantly wear down. If they get into your home, they will chew on everything from walls to insulation, and from treasured, stored keepsakes to electrical wiring.
- Squirrels chew outside. Even if they stay outside, these furry creatures can create bark damage on your trees, which can become an eyesore. They are also known to dig up flower gardens, vegetable gardens, and pretty much every other kind of garden--not to mention that they will steal the fruit right off your fruit trees.
- Squirrels can carry diseases and parasites. Did you know that rodents are known to transmit dangerous diseases? Squirrels are no exception. Squirrels also are known to bring all sorts of parasites with them if they get into your home. If you find yourself fighting lice, mites, ticks or fleas, they may have been brought in by squirrels.
If you are dealing with one or more squirrels in your home, be aware that they can become dangerous if they feel cornered or threatened. But the wildlife control experts here at Big Blue have the knowledge, experience and proper tools to remove squirrels safely and efficiently. You don't have to live with squirrels--no matter how cute--inside your home. Reach out to us today for immediate assistance.